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Peavy throws in Minors, Rienzo tosses three in loss

2013 MLB.com Top Prospects: Andre Rienzo could become the first Brazilian pitcher to make it to the Majors in the near future

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- There might be a time during the 2013 regular season when Jake Peavy and Ubaldo Jimenez face off against each other at U.S. Cellular Field or Progressive Field.

That matchup did not happen Wednesday at Camelback Ranch during the Indians' 5-2 victory over the White Sox.

Peavy was scheduled to start for the South Siders, but instead of facing the American League Central opponent, he was moved to a morning Minor League game on the back fields. Peavy threw 81 pitches, including his three innings of work out of the slide step, which represents an adjustment he probably would not have done during a Cactus League game.

Jimenez worked five innings for the Indians, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out three.

"I felt good," Jimenez said. "I was able to go out there and throw all my breaking balls and fastball for a strike. In the first two or three innings, I was able to command the fastball in and away. I felt good."

The White Sox's biggest damage was inflicted in the third, when they scored their two runs thanks to four straight hits.

Josh Phegley started with a single, followed by Gordon Beckham's ground-rule double to center. Phegley scored on Jimenez's wild pitch, and Beckham came home on Dewayne Wise's single to right. Alexei Ramirez followed with another single, but after Brent Morel's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Jimenez struck out Adam Dunn and retired Paul Konerko on a fly ball to right.

Cleveland scored its first two runs in the third off of Andre Rienzo, who got the start in place of Peavy in his return from the World Baseball Classic, where he pitched for Brazil. Asdrubal Cabrera drove in both runs with a two-out double, but Rienzo had a solid outing with two strikeouts and one walk over three.

"He looked good, compared to last outing," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Rienzo. "Time-wise, he's catching back up. He's been moving all over the place. He's back from Japan. It's nice just to end up in a game and doing pretty good for us."

Rienzo gave up three hits and two walks, leading to five runs, without retiring a batter Feb. 25 against the Giants. Then he went to the World Baseball Classic, where he started one game.

On Wednesday, Carlos Sanchez's throwing error on Yan Gomes' ground ball to short scored the go-ahead run for the Indians in the sixth, and Cord Phelps' two-run home run in the seventh off of Deunte Heath gave the Indians breathing room.

These two teams play again March 27 in the White Sox's final Cactus League contest and then meet in Cleveland from April 12-14.

White Sox up next: After struggling a bit with his control Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, John Danks makes his third start of the spring Thursday afternoon. The game will be played against the Angels in Tempe, with a 3:05 p.m. CT first pitch, and will be televised by MLB Network in the Chicago market and on MLB.TV. Danks, who had Aug. 6 arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder, remains on pace to break camp with the team.

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.